Welcome to People in Revu! New for 2017, this Q&A series will show the world some of the amazing individuals who make the AEC industry the dynamic industry it is today – in your words, of course. If you or someone you know would like to participate in our People in Revu column, share your thoughts with us! Please email social@bluebeam.com to learn more. Let’s be better together!

1. How did you get into your current role?

After my first attempt at college where I spent more time out of class than in class, I joined the work force, owned my own landscaping business, and worked as a semi-truck mechanic for 8 years. Starting to feel the wear and tear of years of physical labor, I realized it was time to return to school and get my degree. With several friends involved in construction and working on amazing projects, I set my goals on a degree that would allow me to pursue that path. I was hired directly out of college for my current position, where my duties and responsibilities evolve with every project’s needs and requirements.

2. Do you have a mantra/saying/catch phrase at work?

While I’m known for throwing out various catch phrases such as, “It’s not just a hat rack” (when you do something smart or need to use your head) or “You can’t learn to swim if you don’t get in the water.” There are two mantras that I try to always follow. The first is “Work smarter not harder; but still work hard,” which I picked up from a professor. The second is “Ain’t no hill for a climber,” which I picked up from a colorful former employer who used it anytime he felt challenged by a task that seemed to be really difficult – he knew he could be complete it and wasn’t afraid to try.

3. What is your favorite part of your job?

The variety of the type of projects that I get to be involved with, and knowing that each completed building exceeds the client’s needs.

4. How do you see your job changing in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I suspect that in the next year, my job will be similar to what it has been in regards to the title of my position in my company, but with a wide array of projects. My responsibilities seem to be ever changing.

In five years, I suspect that construction we will have begun to see a slowdown in the industry, or it will have at least leveled out, but technology will continue to change the tools we use and how we approach construction. I suspect that A/R and V/R, while not being a commonplace tool in the field, will be much more common on complex projects or projects with intricate safety issues that can be evaluated and planned for using A/R or V/R.

Similar to how BIM quickly evolved from a tool used for marketing and helping owners visualize projects, I suspect A/R and V/R will have become a must-have tool rather than nice to have tool in the AEC community. Between A/R, V/R, and robotics, I believe there is a chance that the AEC landscape as we know it will be vastly different in not only our approach to design, but in the way we approach the actual physical construction of projects.

5. What do you know now that you wish you knew on day one?

How important it would be to keep myself organized. I used to rely on my memory to keep track of everything I heard in a meeting or the tasks that I needed to get done. That may have worked great for remembering two weeks out or even six months out, but three years ago …. not so much. The ability to quickly and accurately locate and present information that may have not been discussed in over a year is invaluable.

6. What advice do you have for someone who wants to be in your role?

My advice for someone who wants to be in my role is probably the same advice I would give to anyone who’s interested in any career in construction or any other industry; be willing to adapt and stay open minded about whatever challenges are in front of you. You’ll find that your job is much more rewarding if you’re willing to take on challenges that make you uncomfortable at first, but you’ll find they leave you confident when you’ve completed them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – no one will criticize you for asking, but they may well for not.

7. How has using Revu impacted your career?

I use Revu in every aspect of my career, and I continue to find ways for it to make my work more efficient and accurate. It’s also allowed me to help find ways to make others around me more efficient as well. Whether it’s creative ways to making drawing more accessible in the field through dashboards, or updating scanned safety forms to electronic form fields Revu has proven to be the most versatile, user friendly, and irreplaceable software I use.